BIKES4US

Unveiled at the EICMA show in Milan in November 2008, the smoking-hot Ducati Streetfighter is slated to go on sale in the US by May this year. Priced at $18,995, the Streetfighter S will go on sale in May, while the base model Streetfighter, priced at $14,995, will probably be available by August.

While essentially based on the Ducati 1098, many of the Streetfighter’s bits and pieces are unique to the bike – it has a new subframe, more relaxed steering (25.6 degree rake, compared to 24.5 degrees on the 1098), a swingarm that’s 35mm longer than the 1098’s item, a redesigned cooling system to reduce the width of the bike and a new, fully digital dashboard.

The Streetfighter S is fitted with proper, high-spec bits – 43mm Öhlins USD fork, fully adjustable Öhlins monoshock, five-spoke forged alloy wheels from Marchesini, the Ducati Data Analysis system and Ducati Traction Control (DTC). The Streetfighter S will be available in two colours – red and black – with bronze-painted chassis and wheels, while the base model Streetfighter will come in red and white, with black wheels and dark-grey wheels.

Next week, Ducati will be organising test rides of the Streetfighter for some motorcycle magazines, in Malaga, Spain. In the meanwhile, here are technical specifications of the bike:

Engine: 1,099cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-valve-per-cylinder L-Twin
Power: 155bhp@9,500rpm
Torque: 114Nm@9,500rpm
Chassis: Tubular steel trellis-type frame
Wheelbase: 58.1 inches
Front Suspension: Fully adjustable 43mm Showa (Öhlins on the Streetfighter S) USD fork
Rear Suspension: Aluminum single-sided swingarm, fully adjustable Showa monoshock (Öhlins on the Streetfighter S)
Brakes: Twin 330mm semi-floating discs with radial-mount Brembo Monobloc four-piston callipers (front), single 245mm disc with twin-piston callipers (rear)
Dry Weight: 167kg



For what Damien Basset (the man who's designed the Ducati Streetfighter) has to say about the bike and about motorcycle design in general, see our exclusive interview here